Condemnation

It was a beautiful afternoon, today. I was driving home from a fantastic mani/pedi appointment. I had selected french manicure with a purple, silver and pink plaid design. It sounds gaudy...and it is, but I love it. As I was admiring my shiny nails glistening in the sunlight, a bright yellow sign caught my attention. It was a large yellow sign with the words, NOTICE OF CONDEMNATION in bold black letters across the top. I drove about 10 seconds before it registered. I thought maybe I had read it wrong, surely I didn't read it correctly...it bothered me so badly that I turned my car around to pass by it again. It was placed infront of a cute little house with a wreath on the front door and I had read it correctly. There it was, NOTICE OF CONDEMNATION...and....what? There was a name placed under those words. That person was being given a notice of condemnation on their property. Can I just tell you I about had a running fit right there in my car? I wanted to get out and run up and down Three Knotch Road yelling "Me too! Me too!" I know legally it is a notice of Emminent Domain, where the government takes private property for public use....but please, just let me take it at face value for a second. NOTICE OF CONDEMNATION...notice of condemnation. Whew, I am pushing back the tears just writing this. (so thankful that Great Lash comes in waterproof) Ladies and Gentlemen, boys and girls...I had a Notice of Condemnation on me too....Hallelujah, Praise His name! Can I just tell you, that when people looked at me it was as if I had a huge sign with my name on it strung around my neck telling everyone that I was condmned. Hopless, worthless...of no value...condemned. But God...let me say it again...But God...He had a plan. He took this girl...*insert happy dance* and said, I've got a plan for that life, that girl...is mine. That's when my life changed. I wasn't condmned...I was redeemed...I was spoken for...I was forgiven. Do you know what the opposite of condemn is? Try absolve, acquit, approve, clear, discharge, exonerate, free and/or pardon...Can I get a witness? I am pardoned. I am free. I am approved. Never to be condemned again...my pardon is permanent. Friend, that's salvation in a nutshell. God taking a life and using it for His glory. Whether it is living in the desert teaching the gospel or working at the McDonald's drive-thru...if you are saved, you have worth! When Satan comes prowling around saying, "Remember when you..."...I can loudly proclaim, "Not me! I'm clean, I'm pardoned"! Never and I mean, never...lose sight of the wonder and awesomeness of salvation. That day was the day you moved from death unto life...from condemnation to freedom. Hallelujah!